To Know Christ Jesus

Rating:
Summary: Christ Jesus & You!
Review: Any person who wants to grow in devotion to Christ should read this book. Sheed relates a picture of Christ in his social, political, and religious environment without all the stuffiness that you might find in a history book. Also, Sheed writes extremely well, and you won't get bogged down in detail by reading this book.

In reading this book, you will get to know and understand Jesus better. I've read it twice, and I'm planning on picking it up again real soon because I need Sheed to remind of Christ's love just once more.

Rating:
Summary: Christ Jesus & You!
Review: Any person who wants to grow in devotion to Christ should read this book. Sheed relates a picture of Christ in his social, political, and religious environment without all the stuffiness that you might find in a history book. Also, Sheed writes extremely well, and you won't get bogged down in detail by reading this book.

In reading this book, you will get to know and understand Jesus better. I've read it twice, and I'm planning on picking it up again real soon because I need Sheed to remind of Christ's love just once more.

Rating:
Summary: Brings context to the Gospel
Review: Essential to understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ is an understaning if the times in which He lived. There are a lot of unanswered questions as you read any of the Gospel authors. What ever happened to Joseph? Frank Sheed doesn't know for sure but he speculates and reasons. There is a lot of this in this book but he's always careful to warn you when he's doing so. Reading this book you get a feeling for the times and customs of this period of time. Part theology. Part history. Part archeological. This book brings a fullness of experience to Gospel reading. A warning though, its not a quick read. And at times the theological discussion can get a little deep, but Sheed is careful not to let these sections drag on. Take your time and read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Brings context to the Gospel
Review: Essential to understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ is an understaning if the times in which He lived. There are a lot of unanswered questions as you read any of the Gospel authors. What ever happened to Joseph? Frank Sheed doesn't know for sure but he speculates and reasons. There is a lot of this in this book but he's always careful to warn you when he's doing so. Reading this book you get a feeling for the times and customs of this period of time. Part theology. Part history. Part archeological. This book brings a fullness of experience to Gospel reading. A warning though, its not a quick read. And at times the theological discussion can get a little deep, but Sheed is careful not to let these sections drag on. Take your time and read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Christ comes alive!
Review: Frank Sheed's brilliance shines through in "To Know Christ Jesus". Mr. Sheed not only tells the story of Christ's life beautifully by weaving the four gospels together seamlessly, but does so in a profoundly sound theological way. Let me share with you a typical passage from the book, yet one which shows the tremendous insight that Mr. Sheed brings to his writing:

"Let us look steadily at him. He was a carpenter in a town which, even in insignificant Galilee, was despised as insignificant. He was not playing at being a carpenter, as Marie Antoinette and her ladies played at being shepherdesses at Versailles. He was a carpenter; the household depended on what he made; if trade was bad his mother had to go without. The locals hired him to make and mend in wood. He would name the price and it would be a just price. They would haggle as is the way of the East, beating him down, asking doubtless if he thought they were made of money. In a better mood (having got the price down, perhaps) they might offer him a drink." "And he was omnipotent God, the second person the blessed Trinity, by whom all things were made, including the wood of his carpentry, and the drink, and the customer who was arguing with him about the price: including his own human body and human soul -- that human soul which had to sustain the wonder of his divine self and not be blinded by it."

One should be able to see from this small passage, not only the joy with which Mr. Sheed writes about Christ, but also the love and the reverence he feels for Him. It may be subtle in the passage I quoted, but Mr. Sheed also deftly injects a little humor to round this book out and make it a truly brilliant work.

Rating:
Summary: Christ comes alive!
Review: Frank Sheed's brilliance shines through in "To Know Christ Jesus". Mr. Sheed not only tells the story of Christ's life beautifully by weaving the four gospels together seamlessly, but does so in a profoundly sound theological way. Let me share with you a typical passage from the book, yet one which shows the tremendous insight that Mr. Sheed brings to his writing:

"Let us look steadily at him. He was a carpenter in a town which, even in insignificant Galilee, was despised as insignificant. He was not playing at being a carpenter, as Marie Antoinette and her ladies played at being shepherdesses at Versailles. He was a carpenter; the household depended on what he made; if trade was bad his mother had to go without. The locals hired him to make and mend in wood. He would name the price and it would be a just price. They would haggle as is the way of the East, beating him down, asking doubtless if he thought they were made of money. In a better mood (having got the price down, perhaps) they might offer him a drink." "And he was omnipotent God, the second person the blessed Trinity, by whom all things were made, including the wood of his carpentry, and the drink, and the customer who was arguing with him about the price: including his own human body and human soul -- that human soul which had to sustain the wonder of his divine self and not be blinded by it."

One should be able to see from this small passage, not only the joy with which Mr. Sheed writes about Christ, but also the love and the reverence he feels for Him. It may be subtle in the passage I quoted, but Mr. Sheed also deftly injects a little humor to round this book out and make it a truly brilliant work.